Journal archives for November 2018

06 November, 2018

Thank you

Outramps CREW Diaries - 6th November 2018

Mopping up
Only heavy rain is going to put paid to the devastating fires that have raged over the greater Southern Cape for the last week or so. There have been 9 people killed, lots of damage to property and an exhausted band of firefighters have had very little rest over the last week. There have been mass evacuations and the whole operational centre has done a wonderful job under difficult circumstances. Local Fire Protection Units have given unstintingly of their time and there are many local heroes. To all of those, we say a huge big thank you!!

But we are NOT thanking those landowners, who have allowed their properties to become overgrown with alien plants like Black Wattle, Blackwood, Rooikrantz, Hakea, Pines and Bluegums. These plants have been a major cause of the uncontrollable fire spread. You saw what happened in the Knysna/Plett area in June 2017. It was inevitable that it would happen in George, sooner rather than later. And it did. Get rid of the rubbish as a matter of urgency, otherwise these fires will become an ongoing scenario, which will devour the Southern Cape. BE WARNED! At some stage, the insurance companies are going to recoup their costs from the landowners, whose properties are degraded with alien vegetation. After the 7th June 2017 Knysna fires, I said in a report, "If the alien vegetation, including all the pInes, is not cleared, George is going to have a fire that will make the Knysna fire look like a Sunday-school picnic". Currently 86 000 ha have been destroyed and counting. That is already 4x the size of the Knysna fire.

With an evacuation of Strawberry Hill, an injured husband who has broken 3 cervical vertebrae and his collarbone falling down stairs, swirling smoke and threats of fire, it has been a trying week. Let's all hope that the promised rain arrives in greater quantities than forecast.

Di Turner

From Andrew Sokolic – Water-Shedding Western Cape
This is by far the country’s biggest fire to have occurred in a populated area. We have more than 85 000 hectares that are burning. In last year’s Knysna fires, which were 4 times smaller than this fire, 22 000 hectares were destroyed.

He said the fire was at least 35km wide and had a front of more than 180km.

“It is a truly massive fire”.

Gerard Otto – Head of Disaster Management - Garden Route

Kromme Rivier
MCSA trip to Kromme Rivier 19 – 21 October 2018
Fred and I joined the Mountain Club on a visit to this beautiful farm situated about 25 km northeast of Willowmore between the Witteberg and Grootrivierberge. On Saturday, while most of the group headed for peaks, I wandered along the road seeing what I could find in the Groot Thicket. Aizoaceae and Crassulaceae were well represented, some over, some just coming into bud. Pentzia incana, the last few flowers on various Pteronia and Roepera bushes and scattered Cyanella lutea provided some colour.

I then headed up a slope into the Grootrivier Quartzite Fynbos that burnt in December last year. It was interesting to see that although it was dry, there was quite a bit of regrowth. Hermannia salviifolia var. oblonga (thanks to David Gwynne-Evans for ID) was the dominant plant species, here in Brenton-on-Sea Hermannia salviifolia var. salviifolia was one of the first to flower. Pachypodium succulentum, Dianthus bolusii, Polygala fruticosa, Pelargonium multicaule ssp. multicaule and Bulbine abyssinica were some of the plants in flower. I was just wondering about the absence of Orchids, when I found a single Bartholina etheliae in a crack in the rocks. On one of the rocky ridges there was also few very small, spotty brown Moraea in flower, very well camouflaged against the quartzites.

Before we left the farm on Sunday, I walked along the road in the other direction. The ground was very dry but there were signs of some plants that had taken the chance of some rain earlier in the year to grow, but were now just dry, unrecognizable sticks in the sand. Among those that I did find in flower were Polygala virgata, Roepera lichtensteiniana, Rosenia humilis, Felicia filifolia, Pteronia membranacea and some Crassulas.

As we were driving back towards Willomore a Southern Bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis ssp. Megalotis) ran across the road. There was a second one hiding in the grass, but I was lucky enough to snap my camera as it popped its head up to assess the situation. The picture is in the album.

The Witteberg quartzites have produced some stunning mountains. We hope to return to the area in the not too distant future. Although the place on iNat: https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kromme-rivier-72-ptn-0-willowmore has not got much in it as yet, I hope to rectify that soon.

Nicky

Westford Bridge
A Colour Kalaidoscope
Our destination last Friday was a refreshing change from post-burn monitoring and scratching around on degraded bits of land. Westford Bridge is a private Nature Reserve, admirably run on good environmental principles. A couple of homes and some of the land was burnt in the 7th June 2017 Knysna fires. However, because they had done some earlier planned burning of the Fynbos, there was plenty to see, wonder at and photograph. The views were spectacular and so were the plants.
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Crowdstoppers
Protea cynaroides - stunning in pink and white
Aristea bakeri in pink, white and startling blue
Satyrium acuminatum white with maroon stems
Agathosma capensis from white, lilac through to deep purple
Watsonia pillansii in pale pink and orange
Podalyria myrtillifolia in white an pink
Leucospermum cuneiforme from pale yellow to deep orange
Ceratandra grandiflora painted yellow and red
Lobelia neglecta and tomentosa were pale and dark blue
Gnidia chysophylla - Near Threatened
Selago burchellii - Vulnerable
Westford Bridge https://www.inaturalist.org/places/westford-bridge-estate-knysna

Thank you so much to Westford Bridge for allowing us to access your beautiful Fynbos. We were very impressed with the alien clearing programme, which is made more difficult by the neighbour's total lack of care. The paths were great and a cool breeze kept us comfortable for most of the day. We ended the day with a cool one at Sedgefield Arms.

The atmosphere that day was smoky - a prelude to the horror that was to come. As I write this on Saturday 3rd, the fires are still raging across the Southern Cape, with no end in sight. Right now, it feels as if Strawberry Hill is totally surrounded by fire
Tanniedi with Mike, Sally, Nicky and Dave Kershaw

From Mike's perspective
We had an excellent day and were able to traverse all existing paths west of the forest. This meant we were able to experience the variation in the vegetation on different slopes and aspects. It was sometimes difficult to get moving as we discussed and photographed the interesting diversity your reserve has to offer. Fynbos is adapted to our weather vagaries and is thriving very well after the fire. The almost total lack of invasive species was commented on by all. Your reserve and the people responsible can be very proud of the dedication to maintaining an alien free fynbos.

Once we have collated info I will send out a brief report on our visit. We will also put our photos on iNaturalist so that all your residents can access them.

Thanks again for the opportunity to spend time at Westford Bridge.
Cheers
Mike
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Potjies Pass
Visit to Pootjiesberg Pass
We set out wondering if we would find many things in flower as recent high temperatures had been a factor, but there had been a bit of rain and even with a little, the Little Karoo goes a long way to produce a floral spectacle.

We decided to go to the end of the pass and work our way back. On the lower slopes near Uniondale, comprised of friable shale, we found Pteronia hutchinsoniana (Rare) and Hereroa acuminata (LC) a new locality for this taxon for the Mesemb Mapping Project. Flowering in abundance was Polygala microlopha (LC), the very woody Chaenostoma revolutum (LC) together with Freesia corymbosa (LC).

What we have named as Lotononis elongata (EN) was found in an old quarry where recent dumping had taken place on the mid-slopes of the Pass. Further towards George we found the most un-watsonia-like Watsonia aletroides (NT) in full flower and at a few spots. It seems to like grassy Renosterveld.

We were blown away by how many things were in full flower.
Priscilla
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STOP PRESS
Members of Outramps have organised a 1,2km botanical walk through the endangered Knysna Sand Fynbos at Ocean View on Thursday 15th November as part of VERGE (A group exhibition for IUCN red listed species on the Cape coast, Garden Route and Karoo, in South Africa). More details can be found at: artforspecies.org/workshops-talks .
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Forthcoming Field Trips
The plan for Friday is a visit to the Robberg Corridor. The exact location is to be confirmed
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie

Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
Southern Cape

All id’s subject to confirmation by Doc Annelise and Jan Vlok, Steven Molteno, Dr Tony Rebelo, Nick Helme, Prof Charlie Stirton, Dr Robert Archer, Dr Robert McKenzie, Dr Ted Oliver, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.
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Outramps Places on iNaturalist – You can browse through the observations or refer to the checklist which is in alphabetical order eg. Animals, birds etc.
Cola Conservancy - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/cola-conservancy
Dune Molerat Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/dune-molerat-trails
Featherbed Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/featherbed-nature-reserve
Gouriqua - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/gouriqua-private-nature-reserve
Heaven in the Langkloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/heaven-in-the-langkloof
Herolds Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-herolds-bay
Kammanassie - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kammanassie-reserve
Klein Swartberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/klein-swartberg
Knysna - Westford Bridge https://www.inaturalist.org/places/westford-bridge-estate-knysna
Kouga Mountains Kliphuis - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kouga-mountains
Kranshoek - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kranshoek-
Langeberg Grootvadersbosch - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/grootvadersbosch-nature-reserve
Masons Rust - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/masons-rust-32-ptn-4-gezwinds-kraal-41-ptn-0
Mons Ruber and surrounds - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/mons-ruber-and-surrounds
Mossel Bay Aalwyndal - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/aalwyndal
Mossel Bay Diosma Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/diosma-reserve
Mossel Bay - :https://www.inaturalist.org/places/hartenbos-heuwels

Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-14072
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-19201
Mossel Bay St Blaize Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/st-blaize-trail
Natures Valley - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/nature-s-valley-south-cape-south-africa#page=2
Outeniquas Bobbejaanberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-bobbejanberg-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas Camferskloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-camferskloof
Outeniquas Doringrivier East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-doringrivier-east-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-eastern-outeniquas-from-bergplaas-to-gouna
Outeniquas Eseljagt - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ezeljagt-eseljagt-and-surrounds
Outeniquas Eseljagtpoort - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ezeljagts-poort-72-ptn-0-eseljagt-poort
Outeniquas Flanagans Rock - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/flanagans-rock-rsa
Outeniquas Lange Berg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/lange-berg-112
Outeniquas Paardekop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/paardekop-13
Outeniquas Paardepoort East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-east
Outeniquas Paardepoort West - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-west
Outeniquas Southern Traverse - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-outeniqua-southern-traverse
Rooiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-rooiberg-reserve
Spioenkop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ruigtevlei-plantations
Strawberry Hill - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/strawberry-hill-7-passes-road-wilderness-south-africa
Swartberg Spitskop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-spitskop-to-meiringspoort-swartberg
Uitzicht Portion 39 - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-portion-39
Uitzicht - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-ptn-65
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-1-buffalo-bay
Western Head – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-2-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-3-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/western-head-knysna
White Heather - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/white-heather
Wilderness Brown Hooded Kingfisher Trail – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/brown-hooded-kingfisher-trail
Wilderness Kingfisher Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kingfisher-trails
Witteberg Kromme Rivier - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kromme-rivier-72-ptn-0-willowmore

Outramps Projects on iNaturalist
Lianes and Creepers in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo
Veg Types of South Africa - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vegetation-types-of-south-africa
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Abbreviations Glossary

MCSA – Mountain Club of South Africa
MSB - Millenium Seed Bank based at Kew in the UK
WIP – Work in Progress
HAT – High Altitude Team
LOT – Lowland Team
SIM – Somewhere in the Middle Team
WAGS – Wednesday Adventure Group
VB – Vlok Boekie “Plants of the Klein Karoo” and our Plant Bible
ITRTOL – Another thread “In The Rich Tapestry Of Life”(It describes a challenging situation, usually to do with the Buchu Bus)
ITFOT – In the fullness of time
WOESS – Fair Weather Hiker
FMC and JW – too vulgar to translate, but the equivalent is “Strike me Dead” - An expression of surprise and delight on finding a new “Rare”
Kambro – same as above
Fossick – A meter per minute, scratching around looking for rares
SIDB – Skrop in die Bos – Another name for a field trip, this one coined by Prix
BAFFING – Running round like a blue-arsed fly
SYT – Sweet Young Thing - Anyone under the age of 40
TOMB – Get a move on
Mayhem - Needless or willful damage or violence
SESKRYNG – “Sit en staan kry niks gedaan” ,with thanks to Brian
SOS – Skelms on Scramblers
FW – Idiot
BOB – Another name for the Buchu Bus when she’s misbehaving.
CRAFT – A symptom of Old Age
DDD - Metalasia tricolor (Damned Diabolical Daisy)
VP – Vrekplek – Retirement Village
Qàq – Self-explanatory Inuit word describing some of our local problems
Mr Fab – Our Fabaceae specialist, Brian Du Preez – originally Boy 1
Muisvoel -The Mathematician – Peter Thompson
Boy 2 – Kyle Underwood who works on Orchids and is still at school
Sharkie – Finn Rautenbach – Our latest SYT is a surfer in his spare time and is now the Curator of the Garden Route Botanical Garden
Sicko – Someone who suffers from Car Sickness. With 4 in the Group, allocating seating in the Buchu Bus is tricky
VAG – Virgin Active Garage, which is our meeting place when we head north
MATMUE – Meet At The Mall Under E - Meeting place when we head West
WG – Waves Garage in Wilderness East. - Meeting place when we’re going east.
VU- Vulnerable
DDT – Data Deficient and Taxonomically ?
NT – Near Threatened
EN – Endangered
CR – Critically Endangered
PE – Presumed extinct
LC – Least Concern
TBC – To be Confirmed
TLC – Tender loving care
JMS – An expression of absolute disdain
FOMO – Fear of Missing Out
Milk – the fruit of the vine
Condensed Milk – Scotland’s finest export
Full Cream Milk or Fat Milk – Any product of Humulus lupulus eg. Milk Stout
Milk of the Gods – Rooibos and Brandy
Milk Shake - Sparkling Wine
NS – Species of conservation concern new to the Outramps
PS -Priority Species allocated to the Outramps by our CREW Cape Co-ordinator , Ismail Ebrahim
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants
OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly

Our mailing address is:
di@strawberryhill.co.za

Posted on 06 November, 2018 09:05 by outramps-tanniedi outramps-tanniedi | 0 comments | Leave a comment

13 November, 2018

Shifting Baselines

Outramps CREW Diaries Tuesday 13th November 2018
Shifting Baselines
Tuesday
13th November 2018

An update from Peter - who is part of HAT
I had a 26km trail run with 2600m elevation gain across Jonkershoek on Saturday the 3rd of Nov. We started at 4am and ventured up Botmaskop, from where we followed the watershed up to the saddle (aptly named Saaltjie) before Square Tower Peak. Here, half the party headed down to Jonkershoek, while Oliver, Martin and I headed on for Square Tower Peak and Pieke.

It was great to see masses of Edmondia pinifolia, Oldenburgia intermedia, Kumara haemanthifolia and Erica viscaria subsp. longifolia all the way, but my hope was to find Protea rupicola (Endangered). The historical records talk of Protea rupicola all the way from Pieke to Rifberg and Katedraal, yet I've never been able to find a single plant! This time proved to be no different and definitely not for a lack of trying. This was my 5th time up Pieke and my 2nd time up both Rifberg and Katedraal. Clearly I need to take some time to explore the southern rock faces of these intimidating mountains and not just the watershed.

From Pieke we headed to Rifberg, at which point my energy levels were fading quite fast. I strongly considered turning off at Slabs, but Oliver and Martin motivated me onward to Katedraal. By the time we made it to Bergriviernek, it was clear I wasn't able to retain fluids and I started to vomit - this continued all the way down to Witbrug. Luckily, a friendly couple gave me a lift back to Stellies, but at this point it became apparent that I was suffering from severe dehydration. I unfortunately ended up at the hospital with a drip.... all in all a humbling experience and a true test of my limits! I should probably have paid more attention to my electrolytes and protein intake...

Nevertheless, it was a great trip, with brutal terrain, crazy elevations, stunning views and many high altitude endemics. I'm already planning a trip up Katedraal and across to Banhoekpiek, which is rumoured to house Protea rupicola.

Peter

Alien Busting at Diosma Reserve 6 November 2018
Last week the alien clearing at the Diosma Reserve was cancelled due to peripheral fire chaos all around us and high fire danger in our area. A series of morning showers this week on Diosma Day – and again we had to scupper the good intentions.

By lunchtime the weather had cleared and we got going at last! Kei and Erich did a splendid job of cutting down the bigger Port Jacksons (Acacia saligna) whilst I handpulled loads of Rooikrans (Acacia cyclops) seedlings. A Jangroentjie (Malachite sunbird) kept me company and I was chuffed to see an angulate tortoise deep in the reserve for the first time since the fire.

In flower mostly the yellows: Bobartia robusta, Senecio ilicifolia, Carpobrotus edulis, Carpobrotus muirii (Near Threatened))and the resprouting Agathosma. Jan Vlok took delivery of a stukkie at the GCBR Forum meeting - “Ek het nie nou my brille by my nie, sal jou laat weet!” Dankie solank, Jan!
Sandra and the Fransmanshoek manne Kei and Erich


Dune Molerat Trail

2nd November 2018
On Friday, four Outramps (Mike, Gail, Rusell and I) and one guest (Bridget Randall) did part of The Dune. The surrounding fires made the air very smoky, but the moderate temperature meant reasonably pleasant hiking conditions.

We started along the concrete path. Not much was in flower after the extremely hot and dry winds of the previous week, but we did find a Carissa bispinosa shrub and a Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus tree in full flower and an Aspalathus spinosa plant provided a welcome patch of yellow in a clearing. We then headed along the ridge into the senescent Fynbos. Here there was a bit more colour. Yellow Ursinia chrysanthemoides, Cullumia carlinoides (NT), Aspalathus kougaensis and Hypoxis villosa, orange Leonotis ocymifolia and Passerina rigida, pink Senecio elegans, Pelargonium betulinum, Ruschia duthiae (VU) and Polygala ericaefolia still had some flowers. Agathosma capensis and Agathosma apiculata flowers were keeping the insects busy.

On the descent, I found a single leaf of Nanobubon hypogaeum (EN). There was very little of note to see along the boundary fence other than a few patches of purple Geranium incanum and a single Acrolophia cochlearis plant. The Cytinus growing on some of the Passerina plants in the valley were brown and crisp, having flowered quite a while ago.

Although not looking its best, the Dune Molerat Trail continues to provide an interesting morning outing.

Nicky

Shifting Baselines

Things change. Matching memory to current status quo.

As a little girl: I remember the Outeniqua pass with dripping water everywhere and the ‘manne’ with their knees covered in velvety green blankets, the Touw river’s tea-colour water at Ebb & Flow as always tidal, always clear. Mid primary school: Seeing at least five chameleons a day in George. The late 1990’s in urban Mossel Bay: Two tortoises a day and once a week a chameleon, and iconic Mossel Bay plants – every day.

The ivy-leaved geranium, Pelargonium peltatum, is one of these. Being just too gorgeous it enticed me to explore the north facing road verges in Mossel Bay central. This pelargonium is the great great great grandmother of all the ivy-leaved geraniums cascading from window and flower boxes all over the world. I love to think that ‘she’ came from Mossel Bay. The Afrikaans common name, ‘kolsuring’ and not ‘malva’ always puzzled me until an outing onto the St Blaize Trail with Sao Bras High School wildlife club learners. Close to the impressive cliffs some youngsters tore away, yelling. To our relief, the decibels were not to announce some cliff fatality but merely ‘Veldkos!’ as they discovered this pelargonium and promptly started shoving the leaves into their mouths like sweets! It has a lovely tangy taste – hence the ‘suring’ (sorrel) and ‘kol’ for the circle on the leaf.

The road verges: A road cut cliff face and slopes with cliff clutchers and ‘walhangers’ ranging from coastal thicket to Karroid elements. The cliff with a suburban road above and tannies making fyntuin, the other a slope and a growing township fringe, goats, a man with a digging stick and degradation.

The road cut cliff: Euphorbia mauritanica, E. burmannii– buzzing with bees, E. heptagona, Crassula perforata, C. capitella, Senecio radicans, Eriocephalus africanus, Aloe ferox, Rhoicissus digitata, Lycium cinerium, Searsia crenata, Zygophyllum morgsana, Kleinia ficoides, a Glottiphyllum – probably mixed ancestry courtesy roads dept, Sideroxylon inerme, Schotia afra var. afra, Putterlickia pyracantha, Searsia pterota, Carissa bispinosa, Azima tetracantha, Ipomoea cairica, Cynanchum viminale and ignored bright pink vygies. Most of this beautifully festooned by the rapidly increasing, but attractive tufts of the invader fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum. Below the township slope the same Euphorbia species, Aloe maculata, Cotyledon orbiculata, Chrysocoma ciliata, Pteronia incana and Atriplex semibaccata were in flower.

Being road verges (and railway line), disturbance is expected, but it comes with an impressive and disheartening array of listed invasive alien plants. Lantana camara, Nicotiana glauca, a large stand of Agave americana, Cestrum laevigatum, Ricinis communis, Arundo donax, Nasturtium officinale and Rapistrum rugosum.

Pretending to be wearing a cloak, which renders me invisible next to a busy road, did not quite work so well after a while. I start noticing unwelcome hoots and whistles and the traffic. It takes me back to match my memories to the late 1990’s when there used to be lots of Septemberbos and Duinesalie, Polygala myrtifolia and Salvia africana-lutea, along the road verges, two iconic Mossel bay plants. Not anymore. I guess like the now velvety black knees of the Outeniquas the baseline is shifting in my dear Mossel Bay too.
7 November 2018

Sandra

Herolds Bay with WAGS
A report from (HAT) Evie
A glorious morning out with WAGS in the coastal Fynbos at Herold’s Bay. With the Outeniquas burnt and no Fynbos on their slopes, I am not sure when I will do the real HAT( high altitude) outings again. After all the stress, smoke and general dangers of the fires and winds during the last 8 days – it was such a pleasure to be out in a fresh South Easter blowing cool fresh air inland.

Walking westward out of Herolds Bay – a super stretch of coastal Fynbos following the rocks and cliff tops with distant views of the coastline. Good colours in among the green – plenty of cream coloured Oxalis flowers, a small patch of white Ornithogalum dubium; Passerina obtusifolia at its flowering best; some Erica discolor ssp. discolor and Erica imbricata. Dotted here and there were pretty low growing plants of Polygala ericaefolia. Loads of sunshine yellow daisies as well as shimmering vygies added to the overall colour of the morning. The bulbs generally remained hidden – 2 Orchid stalks in bud – not sure what they will turn out to be!

Evie

Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve Forum Meeting The Granary, Bartholomeu Dias Museum, Mossel Bay
7 November2018

Disclaimer: All the presentations were just perfect. Merely a synopsis below, any mistakes would be mine!

The excellent line up arranged as usual by AnneLise Schutte-Vlok was well attended and started with Tersia Marais of S.M.A.R.T. The ‘Smarties’ volunteers of the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team deal with strandings of seals, seal pups, dolphins, whales, sea birds and penguins and turtles on beaches from Gouritz to Wilderness. Rescue, training, education, rehabilitation, networking, fundraising and beach clean ups are done. In recent times more and more out of range seals have been arriving on Mossel Bay’s shores, a stranded starving whale and calf highlights overfishing and the constant stream of mutilated marine creatures entangled in all kinds of matter emphasize that we need to seriously rethink and address our careless disposal of waste, use of plastics and pollutants. Follow S.M.A.R.T on Facebook, become a volunteer, keep their number at hand and support them financially. They are real eco-heroes in Mossel Bay.

As the current fires are being mopped up Dr Tineke Kraaij of Nelson Mandela University presented research on factors that influenced the severity of the 2017 Knysna fires. An analysis of the landscape and vegetation types, long term climatic conditions, short term weather factors, the effect of alien plants in the landscape, the role of fire suppression, subsequent research on flammability and measurements of fuel moisture content of plant material. Correlations were done with 40 years of weather data available from George. This shows that the prevailing weather conditions at the time of the Knysna fire appear at ± three–year intervals. However, the drought conditions were the most severe for the 40 year period of weather data. Satellite imagery was analysed to track the path of the fire, its intensity and determine the completeness of burn in the landscape and different vegetation types. Fifty per cent of the Knysna fire was in aliens and plantations (fire-prone Fynbos habitat), 25% in Fynbos, 2% in thicket and 4% in forest. This is by no means a complete reflection of Tineke’s interesting content, but gives a clearer understanding of the event and is moving closer to the development of predictive fire danger indices.

Lately there is the perplexing phenomenon of giraffes in the Karoo and the research of Eugéne Marais, University of Stellenbosch, show that although giraffes can survive in the Karoo, there is a much bigger picture to be considered, with more research required. The natural southerly distribution range of this charismatic herbivore is the Orange River. Livestock farms in the Karoo convert to game farms and stock various herbivores without extensive scientific studies to underpin decisions. Giraffes feed 30-48kg daily at a browse height of 1.8 - 4.6m. They are generalist browsers, but favour certain species (such as Acacias). In the Karoo that would be the in the river catchments where Vachellia karroo (before Acacia karroo or soetdoring) is found as seasonal browse. Karoo plants developed without this type browsing. Plants respond by producing secondary metabolites such as hydrogen cyanide (causes acute poisoning) and condensed tannins (high levels of tannins cannot be digested and can lead to gradual loss of condition). There have been unexplained deaths of giraffes in apparent good condition on some farms which requires further studies. Overall it is found that Karoo vegetation produces and maintains very, very high levels of tannins in response to browsing which in turn affects other herbivores negatively. As there is limited browse available, browsing pressure is continuous; this in turn creates greater susceptibility to disease for the browsed plants. There is the good, bad and unknown to having these charismatic herbivores in the Karoo.

Listening to Rudolph Röscher of LandCare touching on the huge collaboration to restore the upper Breede catchment through UBEG (Upper Breede Collaborative Extension Group), I was wondering if one could at best clone, even better, hijack him for our area. The work done is BIG and comes a long way - real actions and outcomes – much of it fuelled by a Friday get together – lunch, wine, meeting after! There is a roll out of alien plant clearing in the catchment; next contractors follow to cut the wood, which is then processed in a sequence - biofuel, wood chips as mulch and biochar. SMME’s are set up. Landowners are mobilised and cross departmental delivery of actions attained. A large nursery is up and running and puts plants back into the system where invasive alien plants had been cleared.

Post clearing of alien invasive plants at Wolseley has already resulted in less flooding and a two week extension to available water supply. This is a multi-tiered involvement and action with many lessons learnt along the way. It was interesting that Eugene ended his talk by listing Stephen Covey’s principles: Be pro-active; Begin with the end in mind; Put first things first; Focus on relationships; Trust – the highest form of human motivation; Clarify expectations – Seek first to understand.
Rudolph advocates the use of CapeFarmMapper which gives one access to maps and spatial database layers such as boundaries, conservation, agriculture, groundwater and so on.

Now I’m wondering. Anyone for Friday lunch?

Mapping of severely transformed spekboomveld in the Calizdorp-Oudtshoorn area for spekboom restoration purposes was done by Jan Vlok of Regalis Environmental Services for the GCBR. Severely transformed areas are defined as having less than 10% of spekboom canopy cover. Jan found 13 200ha out of 120 000ha severely transformed. Restoration intervention would be required. Less transformed areas can recover in time, provided proper veld management is in place. Jan says that spekboom does not grow in calcrete, alluvial soils and heuweltjies (those fairy circles seen on aerial photographs & caused by termites). Lately he has noticed that a higher prevalence of granaatbosse, Rhigozum obovatum (these are covered in yellow flowers shortly after rain), is an indicator of lost spekboom veld.

About a thousand plants can be planted in a hectare. With 80% unemployment in the area this could be an incredible opportunity for the local population. Let’s hold thumbs for them. During question time Jan explained that one can expect a survival success rate of as high as 70% of planted, unrooted cuttings (60cm long cuttings in holes 15cm deep). From experience I know that those holes are incredibly hard to dig….. done under duress after a GCBR Forum meet at Vanwyksdorp! ;-)

Sandra

STOP PRESS

To Di from Dave Underwood
One of the plants you collected at Kouga River in September appears to be Phylica abietina - a new one for me and the first posting of same on iNat.
Nice one.....!
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18090241

A reminder of the guided walk at Brenton this week, a fringe event of the VERGE Art for Species exhibition, Old Goal, Knysna. Finn Rautenbach of the Garden Route Botanical Garden opened the Art exhibition Saturday evening – actually he was just awesome ;-). I loved the art. Nicky, Fred and I could feel the collective energy and intent of the project. Awesome work Janet Botes, curator and driving force! Wishing you and the artists on-going momentum in supporting local species on the brink! https://artforspecies.org/verge/

Members of Outramps have organised a 1,2km botanical walk through the endangered Knysna Sand Fynbos at Ocean View on Thursday 15th November as part of VERGE (A group exhibition for IUCN red listed species on the Cape coast, Garden Route and Karoo, in South Africa) More details can be found at: artforspecies.org/workshops-talks .

It was still mostly scorched sand at the Diosma Reserve in Mossel Bay (after the 7th June, 2017 fire) when a buchu resprouted in several patches. At last it is in flower! Jan Vlok “Ek het jou plantjie goed bekyk en is nog 99.3% seker dat dit Agathosma dielsiana is.” Dankie Jan!! I was ever so slightly worried that the stukkies in his shirt pocket might land up in the washing machine! ;-)

Sandra

Forthcoming Field Trips
With almost everything in close proximity burned, we are heading for the Swartberg on Friday to (hopefully) see how the Orchids and Cyclopias are faring.
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie

Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
Southern Cape

All id’s subject to confirmation by Doc Annelise and Jan Vlok, Steven Molteno, Dr Tony Rebelo, Nick Helme, Prof Charlie Stirton, Dr Robert Archer, Dr Robert McKenzie, Dr Ted Oliver, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.

Outramps Places on iNaturalist – You can browse through the observations or refer to the checklist which is in alphabetical order eg. Animals, birds etc.
Cola Conservancy - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/cola-conservancy
Dune Molerat Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/dune-molerat-trails
Featherbed Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/featherbed-nature-reserve
Gouriqua - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/gouriqua-private-nature-reserve
Heaven in the Langkloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/heaven-in-the-langkloof
Herolds Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-herolds-bay
Kammanassie - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kammanassie-reserve
Klein Swartberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/klein-swartberg
Knysna - Westford Bridge https://www.inaturalist.org/places/westford-bridge-estate-knysna
Kouga Mountains Kliphuis - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kouga-mountains
Kranshoek - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kranshoek-
Langeberg Grootvadersbosch - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/grootvadersbosch-nature-reserve
Masons Rust - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/masons-rust-32-ptn-4-gezwinds-kraal-41-ptn-0
Mons Ruber and surrounds - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/mons-ruber-and-surrounds
Mossel Bay Aalwyndal - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/aalwyndal
Mossel Bay Diosma Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/diosma-reserve
Mossel Bay - :https://www.inaturalist.org/places/hartenbos-heuwels

Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-14072
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-19201
Mossel Bay St Blaize Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/st-blaize-trail
Natures Valley - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/nature-s-valley-south-cape-south-africa#page=2
Outeniquas Bobbejaanberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-bobbejanberg-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas Camferskloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-camferskloof
Outeniquas Doringrivier East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-doringrivier-east-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-eastern-outeniquas-from-bergplaas-to-gouna
Outeniquas Eseljagt - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ezeljagt-eseljagt-and-surrounds
Outeniquas Eseljagtpoort - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ezeljagts-poort-72-ptn-0-eseljagt-poort
Outeniquas Flanagans Rock - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/flanagans-rock-rsa
Outeniquas Lange Berg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/lange-berg-112
Outeniquas Paardekop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/paardekop-13
Outeniquas Paardepoort East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-east
Outeniquas Paardepoort West - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-west
Outeniquas Southern Traverse - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-outeniqua-southern-traverse
Rooiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-rooiberg-reserve
Spioenkop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ruigtevlei-plantations
Strawberry Hill - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/strawberry-hill-7-passes-road-wilderness-south-africa
Swartberg Spitskop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-spitskop-to-meiringspoort-swartberg
Uitzicht Portion 39 - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-portion-39
Uitzicht - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-ptn-65
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-1-buffalo-bay
Western Head – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-2-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-3-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/western-head-knysna
White Heather - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/white-heather
Wilderness Brown Hooded Kingfisher Trail – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/brown-hooded-kingfisher-trail
Wilderness Kingfisher Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kingfisher-trails
Witteberg Kromme Rivier - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kromme-rivier-72-ptn-0-willowmore

Outramps Projects on iNaturalist
Lianes and Creepers in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo

Veg Types of South Africa - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vegetation-types-of-south-africa

Abbreviations Glossary

MCSA – Mountain Club of South Africa
MSB - Millenium Seed Bank based at Kew in the UK
WIP – Work in Progress
HAT – High Altitude Team
LOT – Lowland Team
SIM – Somewhere in the Middle Team
WAGS – Wednesday Adventure Group
VB – Vlok Boekie “Plants of the Klein Karoo” and our Plant Bible
ITRTOL – Another thread “In The Rich Tapestry Of Life”(It describes a challenging situation, usually to do with the Buchu Bus)
ITFOT – In the fullness of time
WOESS – Fair Weather Hiker
FMC and JW – too vulgar to translate, but the equivalent is “Strike me Dead” - An expression of surprise and delight on finding a new “Rare”
Kambro – same as above
Fossick – A meter per minute, scratching around looking for rares
SIDB – Skrop in die Bos – Another name for a field trip, this one coined by Prix
BAFFING – Running round like a blue-arsed fly
SYT – Sweet Young Thing - Anyone under the age of 40
TOMB – Get a move on
Mayhem - Needless or willful damage or violence
SESKRYNG – “Sit en staan kry niks gedaan” ,with thanks to Brian
SOS – Skelms on Scramblers
FW – Idiot
BOB – Another name for the Buchu Bus when she’s misbehaving.
CRAFT – A symptom of Old Age
DDD - Metalasia tricolor (Damned Diabolical Daisy)
VP – Vrekplek – Retirement Village
Qàq – Self-explanatory Inuit word describing some of our local problems
Mr Fab – Our Fabaceae specialist, Brian Du Preez – originally Boy 1
Muisvoel -The Mathematician – Peter Thompson
Boy 2 – Kyle Underwood who works on Orchids and is still at school
Sharkie – Finn Rautenbach – Our latest SYT is a surfer in his spare time and is now the Curator of the Garden Route Botanical Garden
Sicko – Someone who suffers from Car Sickness. With 4 in the Group, allocating seating in the Buchu Bus is tricky
VAG – Virgin Active Garage, which is our meeting place when we head north
MATMUE – Meet At The Mall Under E - Meeting place when we head West
WG – Waves Garage in Wilderness East. - Meeting place when we’re going east.
VU- Vulnerable
DDT – Data Deficient and Taxonomically ?
NT – Near Threatened
EN – Endangered
CR – Critically Endangered
PE – Presumed extinct
LC – Least Concern
TBC – To be Confirmed
TLC – Tender loving care
JMS – An expression of absolute disdain
FOMO – Fear of Missing Out
Milk – the fruit of the vine
Condensed Milk – Scotland’s finest export
Full Cream Milk or Fat Milk – Any product of Humulus lupulus eg. Milk Stout
Milk of the Gods – Rooibos and Brandy
Milk Shake - Sparkling Wine
NS – Species of conservation concern new to the Outramps
PS -Priority Species allocated to the Outramps by our CREW Cape Co-ordinator , Ismail Ebrahim
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants
OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly

Posted on 13 November, 2018 05:47 by outramps-tanniedi outramps-tanniedi | 0 comments | Leave a comment

19 November, 2018

Walkie-Talkies

Outramps CREW Diaries, Tuesday 20th November 2018

Visit to Kranshoek 432 Ptn 5
Robberg Coastal Corridor on 9th November 2018
Quinten Snyman met four Outramps (Mike, Rusell, Sandra, Nicky ) and Ann McGregor at the edge of the Kranshoek cemetery to start our first exploration of this property since the fire on 8th June last year. Armed with plant lists, we started down the brick road, hoping to find the path near the coast. Quinten charged off ahead, while we studied and photographed the plants along the way. We hadn’t got very far down the rather dilapidated road before he returned, reporting that fallen trees and loose rocks would make it very difficult and somewhat dangerous to get to the coastline the way we were headed, so we turned back.

The fire has changed the scenery considerably and while admiring a ‘new’ view of the sea, we spotted some whales. This initiated a long discussion about the fish in the area. Quinten has made some very interesting observations and speculations about the large number of dead fish sometimes found along this coastline.

There was a team working on alien vegetation removal. The abundance of Acacia saligna, Acacia mearnsii and Leptospermum laevigatum seedlings that have come up after the fire means there is a lot work for them to do! We did our bit of pulling as we walked towards the Leggat’s house. There were young Rapanea melanophloeos plants where we had seen large trees during our last visit, the big trees having burnt down, but there was no sign of Erica glandulosa subsp. fourcadei (VU).

We popped in at Dawn Leggat’s house to announce our presence, met her daughter, Lyndal, and introduced ourselves to the dogs before heading down the path. The display of Erica formosa and inaccessible growth of Protea neriifolia seen in October 2016 was burnt in the fire, giving us the opportunity to explore the slope in more detail. The large number of Protea neriifolia seedlings popping up between the skeletons of their parents heralds a magnificent display in the future. Leucospermum cuneiforme and Leucadendron salignum plants were resprouting as was Psoralea vanberkelae (VU). There were enough Acmadenia alternifolia (VU) plants to bode well for the survival of this species on this property.

As with the other burn sites we have visited, there was a large stand of Anisodontea scabrosa. A tall Moraea ramosissima plant caught our attention, as did patches of pink Aizoaceae, their bright colours enhanced by the burnt surroundings. We hope that we found six Muraltia knysnaensis (EN) plants, but this ID is still to be confirmed. Ornithogalum dubium was flowering in profusion, in colours ranging from white to dark yellow. We were hoping to find some orchids, having seen leaves on previous visits, but other than the last few flowers of a white Satyrium, there was no sign of them. Lyndal said that she had noticed that several plants had disappeared from the property and that she was concerned that they were being harvested.

We made our way back to the house where we met Robert, Dawn’s sculptor son, who was clearing up the mess that vagrants had made in their other house on the property, an on-going problem since the fire! We really appreciated the tea and muffins offered by our hostesses and enjoyed the conversation. Then it was time to head back to the car.

Thank you to the Leggats, for once again giving us permission to botanise on their beautiful property and to Quinten for helping us to avoid some very difficult terrain.

The iNaturalist links for this property and the RCC are:
https://www.inaturalist.org/places/robberg-coastal-corridor-krans-hoek-432-ptn-5
https://www.inaturalist.org/places/robberg-coastal-corridor-e8267c6b-9263-4a87-a721-a24619be6dc8

Nicky

On the shores of Groenvlei with LOT
My daughter Peggy was visiting from the UK and we were suffering from "flower-deprivation" after no field trips for a couple of weeks. So Russell, Peggy and I decided to go plant-hunting in the area around Goukamma Nature Reserve for a couple of hours on Friday morning.

We were delighted to find the lovely deep red Satyrium princeps (Vulnerable) at the end of its flowering season. The day got even better when we found 5 magnificent Eulophia speciosa. This lovely golden Orchid has been downgraded to Least Concern, but needs careful monitoring. It is widely used in the traditional Medicine trade and is a highly- prized horticultural specimen.

Other plants that are common in the area, include Sideroxylon inerme, Osteospermum moniliferum, Grewia occidentalis, Passerina rigida and Agathosma apiculata. Threats are Rooikrans, verge-mowing and collection by traditional healers and horticulturalists.

With cameras left at home, we were dependent on Peggy's phone for the pictures. Altogether it proved to be a good morning out fossicking with family and friends.

Gail

VERGE Botanical Walk
Ocean View 15th October 2018
When discussing the hike, Sandra and I decided that 15 would be the maximum number of participants, and that even that number would be a lot as the trail is narrow and it would not be ideal to talk to a large group of people. According to replies, there were going to be fourteen of hikers. Somehow on Thursday we ended up with 19 (that did include the two of us!). Go with the flow, so they say…

The hikers were very punctual and just after 8 we started talking. I handed out plant lists (which did not include common names) and briefly described Fynbos, taxonomy, the importance of conserving species and the reason why we had not included common names on the list. We used the prolific Bitou bush to illustrate our point. The participants really enjoyed Sandra’s examples of common names.

We then made our way (with permission) past the no-entry sign and started the 1.2 km trail. The first red-listed plant we saw was Gnidia chrysophylla (NT) and it was then that the group partially split up.

A couple of photographers went ahead trying to get pictures of, among other things, butterflies, hoping to snap the Brenton Blue: I hope they did! Some members, very keen to tick off, identify and add as many plants as possible to their lists, stuck with me while Sandra entertained others with the traditional uses of plants and related stories and others wandered in between. We congregated at the bottom of the hill where we gave a short summary of what the Outramps get up to and how the participants could get involved in citizen science by posting on i-Nat. We were standing in a large stand of Psoralea affinis, just beginning to flower and this led to a description of how Psoralea vanberkelae came about.

Then it was up the 107 steps. At the top, Protea cynaroides (Small-leaved Garden Route form) and the last few flowers at the top of a Satyrium princeps (VU) inflorescence stopped the participants before we headed back to the cars. We did find a few last flowers at the top of a branch of Selago burchellii (VU) and a few tall Satyrium acuminatum plants before we got there.

The walkie-talkie (Sandra’s description) took nearly 3 hours! There were so many questions asked and I hope we gave satisfactory answers. Sandra and I hope that those who took part enjoyed it as much as we did. The weather played along, although it was a bit smoky and misty at the start, beautiful views appeared during the course of the morning.

Thank you to Christa for the opportunity to walk the carefully-cleared Fynbos trail on her property and to Janet Botes for the opportunity to take part in the VERGE Initiative. Janet is the curator/coordinator of VERGE (an art exhibition, talk + workshops for endangered, vulnerable species).

Nicky

Forthcoming Field Trips
The plant name signage on the Gouritsmond Conservation Trust hiking trail needs work and we were asked to help match plants to names. That is where LOT and SIM will head to this Friday. It is a short trail, but there is always a lot to see and explore. Probably a good idea to cover up against horseflies?
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie

Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
Southern Cape

All id’s subject to confirmation by Doc Annelise and Jan Vlok, Steven Molteno, Dr Tony Rebelo, Nick Helme, Prof Charlie Stirton, Dr Robert Archer, Dr Robert McKenzie, Dr Ted Oliver, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.

Outramps Places on iNaturalist – You can browse through the observations or refer to the checklist which is in alphabetical order eg. Animals, birds etc.
Cola Conservancy - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/cola-conservancy
Dune Molerat Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/dune-molerat-trails
Featherbed Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/featherbed-nature-reserve
Gouriqua - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/gouriqua-private-nature-reserve
Heaven in the Langkloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/heaven-in-the-langkloof
Herolds Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-herolds-bay
Kammanassie - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kammanassie-reserve
Klein Swartberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/klein-swartberg
Knysna - Westford Bridge https://www.inaturalist.org/places/westford-bridge-estate-knysna
Kouga Mountains Kliphuis - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kouga-mountains
Kranshoek - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kranshoek-
Langeberg Grootvadersbosch - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/grootvadersbosch-nature-reserve
Masons Rust - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/masons-rust-32-ptn-4-gezwinds-kraal-41-ptn-0
Mons Ruber and surrounds - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/mons-ruber-and-surrounds
Mossel Bay Aalwyndal - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/aalwyndal
Mossel Bay Diosma Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/diosma-reserve
Mossel Bay - :https://www.inaturalist.org/places/hartenbos-heuwels

Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-14072
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-19201
Mossel Bay St Blaize Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/st-blaize-trail
Natures Valley - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/nature-s-valley-south-cape-south-africa#page=2
Outeniquas Bobbejaanberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-bobbejanberg-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas Camferskloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-camferskloof
Outeniquas Doringrivier East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-doringrivier-east-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-eastern-outeniquas-from-bergplaas-to-gouna
Outeniquas Eseljagt - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ezeljagt-eseljagt-and-surrounds
Outeniquas Eseljagtpoort - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ezeljagts-poort-72-ptn-0-eseljagt-poort
Outeniquas Flanagans Rock - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/flanagans-rock-rsa
Outeniquas Lange Berg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/lange-berg-112
Outeniquas Paardekop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/paardekop-13
Outeniquas Paardepoort East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-east
Outeniquas Paardepoort West - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-west
Outeniquas Southern Traverse - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-outeniqua-southern-traverse
Robberg Corridor - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/robberg-coastal-corridor-krans-hoek-432-ptn-5
Robberg Corridor - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/robberg-coastal-corridor-e8267c6b-9263-4a87-a721-a24619be6dc8
Rooiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-rooiberg-reserve
Spioenkop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ruigtevlei-plantations
Strawberry Hill - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/strawberry-hill-7-passes-road-wilderness-south-africa
Swartberg Spitskop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-spitskop-to-meiringspoort-swartberg
Swartberg Waboomsberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/waboomsberg-in-the-swartberg
Uitzicht Portion 39 - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-portion-39
Uitzicht - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-ptn-65
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-1-buffalo-bay
Western Head – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-2-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-3-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/western-head-knysna
White Heather - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/white-heather
Wilderness Brown Hooded Kingfisher Trail – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/brown-hooded-kingfisher-trail
Wilderness Kingfisher Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kingfisher-trails
Witteberg Kromme Rivier - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kromme-rivier-72-ptn-0-willowmore

Outramps Projects on iNaturalist
Lianes and Creepers in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo

Veg Types of South Africa - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vegetation-types-of-south-africa

Abbreviations Glossary

MCSA – Mountain Club of South Africa
MSB - Millenium Seed Bank based at Kew in the UK
WIP – Work in Progress
HAT – High Altitude Team
LOT – Lowland Team
SIM – Somewhere in the Middle Team
WAGS – Wednesday Adventure Group
VB – Vlok Boekie “Plants of the Klein Karoo” and our Plant Bible
ITRTOL – Another thread “In The Rich Tapestry Of Life”(It describes a challenging situation, usually to do with the Buchu Bus)
ITFOT – In the fullness of time
WOESS – Fair Weather Hiker
FMC and JW – too vulgar to translate, but the equivalent is “Strike me Dead” - An expression of surprise and delight on finding a new “Rare”
Kambro – same as above
Fossick – A meter per minute, scratching around looking for rares
SIDB – Skrop in die Bos – Another name for a field trip, this one coined by Prix
BAFFING – Running round like a blue-arsed fly
SYT – Sweet Young Thing - Anyone under the age of 40
TOMB – Get a move on
Mayhem - Needless or willful damage or violence
SESKRYNG – “Sit en staan kry niks gedaan” ,with thanks to Brian
SOS – Skelms on Scramblers
FW – Idiot
BOB – Another name for the Buchu Bus when she’s misbehaving.
CRAFT – A symptom of Old Age
DDD - Metalasia tricolor (Damned Diabolical Daisy)
VP – Vrekplek – Retirement Village
Qàq – Self-explanatory Inuit word describing some of our local problems
Mr Fab – Our Fabaceae specialist, Brian Du Preez – originally Boy 1
Muisvoel -The Mathematician – Peter Thompson
Boy 2 – Kyle Underwood who works on Orchids and is still at school
Sharkie – Finn Rautenbach – Our latest SYT is a surfer in his spare time and is now the Curator of the Garden Route Botanical Garden
Sicko – Someone who suffers from Car Sickness. With 4 in the Group, allocating seating in the Buchu Bus is tricky
VAG – Virgin Active Garage, which is our meeting place when we head north
MATMUE – Meet At The Mall Under E - Meeting place when we head West
WG – Waves Garage in Wilderness East. - Meeting place when we’re going east.
VU- Vulnerable
DDT – Data Deficient and Taxonomically ?
NT – Near Threatened
EN – Endangered
CR – Critically Endangered
PE – Presumed extinct
LC – Least Concern
TBC – To be Confirmed
TLC – Tender loving care
JMS – An expression of absolute disdain
FOMO – Fear of Missing Out
Milk – the fruit of the vine
Condensed Milk – Scotland’s finest export
Full Cream Milk or Fat Milk – Any product of Humulus lupulus eg. Milk Stout
Milk of the Gods – Rooibos and Brandy
Milk Shake - Sparkling Wine
NS – Species of conservation concern new to the Outramps
PS -Priority Species allocated to the Outramps by our CREW Cape Co-ordinator , Ismail Ebrahim
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants
OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly

Posted on 19 November, 2018 14:29 by outramps-tanniedi outramps-tanniedi | 0 comments | Leave a comment

26 November, 2018

The Rainbird Calls

Outramps CREW Diaries
Tuesday
27th November 2018

Waboomsberg
If you were looking for floral display on Waboomsberg on Friday, you were doomed to disappointment. There was very little in flower and the vegetation was showing evidence of the long and crippling drought. Our main targets were the Cyclopias and the Orchids usually seen flowering at this time of the year.

In order to cover a larger area, Nicky and Mike scoured the eastern slopes above the Pass. Sandra explored the peak opposite to the summit ridge and then Evie and Sandra went up to the summit. (See reports below) They all did a thereandback to the Pass.

Having developed severe cabin fever over the preceding weeks, I needed a strenuous outing to get my biorhythms in sync. So I opted for the circular that ends at Ou Tol and includes a circuit around the west-facing slopes, a long downhill to the north, before turning south to cross the nek and descend to the cottages at Ou Tol. I had my rewards.

There were 2 miserable specimens of Disa schidioides (Rare) on the western slopes. Also in a remnant of unburnt veld, both Cyclopia bolusii (Vulnerable) and burtonii (Vulnerable) were in flower, although they looked a bit dessicated and dry. I was pushed for time so didn't do a thorough exploration for new plants in the burnt patch. The rare Helichrysum saxicola and Felicia oleosa were present, but all the Berkheya francisci (Rare) plants were past flowering. We found a couple in full flower further down the Pass. At Ou Tol, I found some Otholobium swartbergense (Rare) in full flower.

I had a marvelous day out in my beloved Swartberg, despite the rather muted floral display.
Tanniedi

Waboomsberg Summit
Hat Evie reports
Having reached the saddle, and feeling hot, sticky and lazy it seemed the summit was not all that desirable on this hot November day in the Swartberg. A quick nap (HAT Tony style) with my head tucked in under the rocks for shade was required. Possibly the new little Erica nervata (back after a burn 3.5yrs ago) close to my nose must have eventually said- “the summit is waiting”. I scoured under this overhang to see whether any other Erica’s were lurking- not so. Sandra found the interesting hairy Erica’s - under other overhangs.

Getting towards the summit there were pretty clumps of Erica fimbriata filling the gaps between the rocks; clumps of Erica discolor seemed to be perched on the rocks above. It was an amazingly shiny and sticky variety. On the more westerly edge there were still a few flowers of Cyclopia bolusii (VU) in bright yellow. And even further west – smoke on the horizon.

Around the summit we saw Leucadendron dregei (EN ) with the cones older in orange/brown. They were very pink /red new season cones when I last visited in March 2018). Small spots of yellow Hippia pillosa appeared in level patches; Felicia oleosa (R) in flower; more Erica nervata with flowers almost over, while the numerous plants of Erica petraea were also covered in spent flower heads.

The sad plant though, was Protea montana(VU). Hardly recognizable – spreading around just like “ tufts of dry winter Highveld grass”. I guess these plants, commonly known as the “Snow Protea” are particularly ‘shattered” after an exceptionally dry Cape winter with little moisture in the form of either winter rainfall, snow, or air/cloud moisture swirling around the summit.

Evie

Ericas in the clouds
Elevation 1600-1910m above sea-level
Make no mistake. Nature junkies and plant addicts do exist. It probably beats the before, during and after of any however-long-flight to Dubai hands down. Admittedly it takes more effort to hike up the Swartberg from the top of the pass (1570m) to the nek below Waboomsberg (1890m)… than up the stairs into a jumbo jet.

Erica sightseeing up Waboomsberg reveals the altitudinal range, pollination strategies and position in the landscape of several species. Coming out tops as an individualistic all-rounder is robust Erica discolor ssp. discolor. It is seen at all altitudes, mostly as single plants, here and there, far apart, toes in the rocks and its back tightly to it, often facing west. Sturdy structure and tubular flowers are engineered for bird pollination?

Little Erica fimbriata occurs as small round bushes in social stands higher up on the eastern slope and on the neck (between the Waboomsberg peak and a lesser peak & ridge to the north). Prolific in flower, one wonders what the full role of the collective mass of white flowers is and whether light reflection plays any role in its life strategies.

Once on the neck, a very gently east facing slope, Erica glandulipila (Rare) is scattered all over, but certainly not cosying up to one another. They are small upright plants with grey-green leaves absolutely covered in glandular hairs. Brush past it - and it puffs clouds of pollen. In Erica-land the size of the stigma would qualify as a satellite dish! Clearly master manipulators of their environment, they are just perfectly positioned to catch all the prevailing winds for wind-pollination of the dusky pink flowers. So clever!

‘See me, see me’! We explore the neck and ridge to the north and always visit Protea venusta (EN), sprawled like leopards over the rocks. Now, two bushes of Erica nervata grow right in the middle of the one of the basking leopards. Flowering is a bit over, but it is duly greeted. Ja, ja Nervata – hi, cool to see you again! Another rock hugger, Erica petraea, is not in flower and is but a demure onlooker to this blatant attention seeking.

For spectacular northerly views - first a quick hi to Protea montana (VU) and Leucadendron dregei (EN) before some rock scrambling onto the ridge. Here in a sheltered rock passage one finds two more Erica species. It looks as if the rocks tore apart and their debris fell into a little crevasse. Tread carefully to meet these plants, there are gaping holes between the wedged rock fragments! Meet the ‘Erica in the clouds’!

Erica nubigena is floriferous, its shiny pink flowers in tiny flasks of threes on long stalks (nubigenus = born of clouds, Lat.). The flowers are incredibly sticky and stick to one another and whatever else they touch. Again, I wonder why. Would they be as sticky once they had set seed, to aid dispersal? I have to admit that I am very in love with this Erica (too)! Faithful to the genus, but not so on species level ;-). Oh, over there! A lone Cliffortia on the ridge, maybe C. montana (Rare)?

Just over the neck, facing west, are some neat compact bushes of Erica humifusa. There are just a couple of plants, in a relatively small patch. They are set apart from one another, it looks somewhat formal. Just beginning to flower, the branch tips curve and dip the flowers into a nod. Everything about it, the leaf arrangement and flowers is neat and tidy. Sort of Japanese, I think. My heart is still with the ‘Erica in the clouds’ on the ridge and I am not, yet, wondering about this wax-like Japanese cutie and exactly how it makes its surroundings bow to its survival.

On the way down we see only one Erica imbricata in flower. Evie sees Erica anguliger and shows me that, whilst setting seed, the plants can be recognised by the tiny white spots seen all over. Thank you Evie ;-).

A heady haul of only some of the high altitude Ericas! Off, home, fueled by plant excitement which lasts quite a while; but it is time to admit: “I am So-and-So and I am a Nature junkie and a plant addict. And, yipiiieee, there is no cure for that!!!!”

Sandra (probably mostly in the clouds! ;-)

Visit to Stillbay area
The day was sunny with only a cloud or two in the sky and LOT knew it would be hot. This weather however is super for getting the best out of flowering species.

What we were looking for was Tritonia squalida (NT) which I had found the previous year in full flower along the Riethuiskraal road a bit earlier in the year, but as I always say “There is always a naughty one”, which turned out to be true.

We decided to visit the Pauline Bohnen Nature Reserve first, as we wanted to check on the “progress” with the widening of the airfield there. We found numerous plants of Tritonia squalida (NT), just at the end of their flowering season. A worrisome thing was that very few had set seed. Also there we found Muraltia depressa (LC). Just past flowering were Agathosma geniculata (NT), Acmadenia obtusata (LC), Oedera uniflora (LC), Diosma echinulata (LC) and Dianthus thunbergii forma maritimus (not evaluated). A dwarf-shrub Psoralea was also found with only one bloom. A Selago flowering in abundance needs further identification.

We had lunch looking out over the estuary and a huge flock of (what we thought were) sunbathing terns. We then proceeded along the river towards Riethuiskraal. Here we found the population of Tritonia squalida (NT) severely bulldozed as a result of wall-building. They had finished flowering completely and had become dormant but very few had set any seed at all, possibly due to low rainfall this season. There were populations of Crassula ciliata (LC) also in threatened spots ready for the bulldozer to claim. We were on the lookout for Relhania garnottii (VU) but alas it eluded Rusell’s hawk eyes. We did get a Delosperma sp. on the way back to the N2, which will need a bit of teasing to end up with a species name.

By the time we had collected our data it was too late to visit the Gin-tasting joints on the way home. Every journey requires a reason for a return...next time.

Priscilla

The Black of Blacks
Hat Evie reports
Normally my reports are all about colour- not this one. On Sunday 18th Nov HAT Tony and I decided it was time to investigate the Outeniquas on our doorstep. What are they like after the fires of late Oct -almost 3 weeks ago? The landscape is certainly black and ashen grey as we walked up along a track towards Paddakop, which forms part of the ridgeline to Melville Peak.

This track passes up to higher ground - through the old plantation area of Groenkop. Trees ( both Pines and Fynbos) are mostly still standing, but pitch black from burning. Many of the old ringbarked Pines are also still standing. They have already stood as ringbarked trees for many years! Some trees (Pines, Leucadendron sp. and Berzerlia intermedia) have only brown badly singed leaf cover. Higher up we noted green “Bulls eye” patches of indigenous bush in the steep gullys surrounded by a perimeter of brown burn.

Looking back, it is very gratifying (especially as a local resident) to note that the thickly treed indigenous forests of both Groenweide and Groenkop form a natural fireproof boundary. This forest only burnt in a narrow band along the entire perimeter from East to West. I guess this is the drier band of pioneer trees along the edge, such as Keurboom sp; as well as the tall Erica and Phylica trees.

Great to notice that nature is as ready and alert as ever. Short tails of green are appearing on the Sedges, Restios, and shoots from bulbs, which are probably Watsonia. In a small old quarry area, we saw a lonely Erica discolor; a few Lobelia tomentosa and 2 Metalasia bushes.

It just goes to show – if you really want to avoid a home fire, maybe surrounding your house with enough gravel or concrete would work??

Evie

Waist-Deep in the Mudgat
I have been walking the Dune Molerat Trail since 1970 on an average of 4x a year. I have therefore seen a lot of it, but I have never seen the river or the track on the eastern side so high. The river was in full spate, the track was knee-deep in water, but it was the mudgat about 200m from the second boardwalk that produced the most adventure.

En route to Dune Molerat with WAGS, there was a rockfall on the Seven Passes Rd just west of the Silver River, which was in flood for the first time in ages. Not surprising! We'd had 90mm at Strawberry Hill overnight. Despite the odd spit and a spot from the heavily clouded sky, the rain was on its way out. Having made an early start before the rest, wet vegetation overhanging the path made for damp going and the sight of a full mudgat was not totally unexpected.

Boots and all, with camera bag lifted high,I gingerly prodded my way through the muddy water with the crutches, trying to assess the depth. There were anxious moments, when the water reached my waist, but that was the worst of it. Drenched and muddy, I went on my way. There was lots more wading to do and when I reached the beautiful new jetty on the western banks of Swarvlei, I again waded in up to my waist to get rid of the mud acquired at the mudgat. Any chance observers watching an old white-haired crone on crutches heading into Swartvlei fully clothed, would have suspected dementia and they may just have been right.

The only plant worth mentioning was Lebeckia gracilis (Endangered) on the western side of the Reserve. I have not seen it there before.The wild rambling rose on the site of an old cottage was covered in raindrops and was a delight to the eye. Orange poppies (Papaver aculeatum) were bright spots of colour in the landscape. During the whole walk along the wetland on the northern side, the haunting call of Burchell's Coucal (Centropus burchellii) was in the background. "You're on the late side bird - the rain is over for the moment".

SANPARKS, the long boardwalk to the east of the mudgat needs urgent repairs. One section has collapsed entirely and was under water. Also a boardwalk over the mudgat has now become almost a necessity and the path needs clearing. Over the coming months, there is going to be lots of hiking pressure on Dune Molerat, as the burnt mountains are rather unappealing to the general public, although we will have to do lots of post-burn monitoring. And Cape Nature, the hiking trails at Goukamma also need to be opened to fill the gap left by the most recent burn. It's now over 2 years since Goukamma was closed?
Tanniedi

The photo above was taken by Hans Delport of WAGS and shows the first of the hikers at the entry to the mudgat - ed

Sundowners with the Kingfishers
Taking advantage of a warm late afternoon and an absentee neighbour, we repaired to the large river pool on his property, taking along a bottle of bubbles for good measure. To entertain us while we quaffed was a family of five Half-collared Kingfishers - parents feeding 3 sturdy youngsters, (frankly, they looked old enough to feed themselves) and the phrase "failure to launch" did pop into my head.

After each feeding the birds would sit and bob on the branch, looking for all the world as if they had an attack of collective hiccups.

Sally and Pam

Snippets
Climate scientists have long pointed to Africa, as one of the places in the world that is most vulnerable to global warming impacts, especially drought. And if there's one thing that even climate denialists don't dispute, dry things burn. (with apologies to Jeff Goodell. I substituted Africa for California).

The vagaries of my computer meant that I missed this note last week. On the basis of "Better Late than Never", here it is. A WHOOP WHOOP to Nicky. It is her groundwork to record local data over time, which made the Brenton ‘VERGE Art for Species’ walkie-talkie a success. Thank you Nicky! Fun and a pleasure to do this together!

Sandra

Forthcoming Field Trips
We have permission from Heine Muller to explore the north-western corner of Spioenkop on Friday. It won't be a very long day, as he has asked us to be out just before 3 when they close the area. With this field trip, we have covered most of the plantation sites that were burnt in the Knysna fires in June 2017. Unfortunately we missed the crucial Orchid period, because of the George Fires and the heatwave that caused them. Next year?
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie

Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
Southern Cape

All id’s subject to confirmation by Doc Annelise and Jan Vlok, Steven Molteno, Dr Tony Rebelo, Nick Helme, Prof Charlie Stirton, Dr Robert Archer, Dr Robert McKenzie, Dr Ted Oliver, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.

Outramps Places on iNaturalist – You can browse through the observations or refer to the checklist which is in alphabetical order eg. Animals, birds etc.
Cola Conservancy - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/cola-conservancy
Dune Molerat Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/dune-molerat-trails
Featherbed Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/featherbed-nature-reserve
Gouriqua - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/gouriqua-private-nature-reserve
Gouritzmond - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/the-gouritsmond-commonage
Heaven in the Langkloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/heaven-in-the-langkloof
Herolds Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-herolds-bay
Kammanassie - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kammanassie-reserve
Klein Swartberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/klein-swartberg
Knysna - Westford Bridge https://www.inaturalist.org/places/westford-bridge-estate-knysna
Kouga Mountains Kliphuis - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kouga-mountains
Kranshoek - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kranshoek-
Langeberg Grootvadersbosch - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/grootvadersbosch-nature-reserve
Masons Rust - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/masons-rust-32-ptn-4-gezwinds-kraal-41-ptn-0
Mons Ruber and surrounds - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/mons-ruber-and-surrounds
Mossel Bay Aalwyndal - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/aalwyndal
Mossel Bay Diosma Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/diosma-reserve
Mossel Bay - :https://www.inaturalist.org/places/hartenbos-heuwels

Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-14072
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-19201
Mossel Bay St Blaize Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/st-blaize-trail
Natures Valley - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/nature-s-valley-south-cape-south-africa#page=2
Outeniquas Bobbejaanberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-bobbejanberg-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas Camferskloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-camferskloof
Outeniquas Doringrivier East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-doringrivier-east-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-eastern-outeniquas-from-bergplaas-to-gouna
Outeniquas Eseljagt - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ezeljagt-eseljagt-and-surrounds
Outeniquas Eseljagtpoort - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ezeljagts-poort-72-ptn-0-eseljagt-poort
Outeniquas Flanagans Rock - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/flanagans-rock-rsa
Outeniquas Lange Berg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/lange-berg-112
Outeniquas Paardekop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/paardekop-13
Outeniquas Paardepoort East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-east
Outeniquas Paardepoort West - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-west
Outeniquas Southern Traverse - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-outeniqua-southern-traverse
Robberg Corridor - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/robberg-coastal-corridor-krans-hoek-432-ptn-5
Robberg Corridor - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/robberg-coastal-corridor-e8267c6b-9263-4a87-a721-a24619be6dc8
Rooiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-rooiberg-reserve
Spioenkop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ruigtevlei-plantations
Strawberry Hill - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/strawberry-hill-7-passes-road-wilderness-south-africa
Swartberg Spitskop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-spitskop-to-meiringspoort-swartberg
Swartberg Waboomsberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/waboomsberg-in-the-swartberg
Uitzicht Portion 39 - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-portion-39
Uitzicht - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-ptn-65
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-1-buffalo-bay
Western Head – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-2-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-3-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/western-head-knysna
White Heather - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/white-heather
Wilderness Brown Hooded Kingfisher Trail – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/brown-hooded-kingfisher-trail
Wilderness Kingfisher Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kingfisher-trails
Witteberg Kromme Rivier - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kromme-rivier-72-ptn-0-willowmore

Outramps Projects on iNaturalist
Lianes and Creepers in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo

Veg Types of South Africa - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vegetation-types-of-south-africa

Abbreviations Glossary

MCSA – Mountain Club of South Africa
MSB - Millenium Seed Bank based at Kew in the UK
WIP – Work in Progress
HAT – High Altitude Team
LOT – Lowland Team
SIM – Somewhere in the Middle Team
WAGS – Wednesday Adventure Group
VB – Vlok Boekie “Plants of the Klein Karoo” and our Plant Bible
ITRTOL – Another thread “In The Rich Tapestry Of Life”(It describes a challenging situation, usually to do with the Buchu Bus)
ITFOT – In the fullness of time
WOESS – Fair Weather Hiker
FMC and JW – too vulgar to translate, but the equivalent is “Strike me Dead” - An expression of surprise and delight on finding a new “Rare”
Kambro – same as above
Fossick – A meter per minute, scratching around looking for rares
SIDB – Skrop in die Bos – Another name for a field trip, this one coined by Prix
BAFFING – Running round like a blue-arsed fly
SYT – Sweet Young Thing - Anyone under the age of 40
TOMB – Get a move on
Mayhem - Needless or willful damage or violence
SESKRYNG – “Sit en staan kry niks gedaan” ,with thanks to Brian
SOS – Skelms on Scramblers
FW – Idiot
BOB – Another name for the Buchu Bus when she’s misbehaving.
CRAFT – A symptom of Old Age
DDD - Metalasia tricolor (Damned Diabolical Daisy)
VP – Vrekplek – Retirement Village
Qàq – Self-explanatory Inuit word describing some of our local problems
Mr Fab – Our Fabaceae specialist, Brian Du Preez – originally Boy 1
Muisvoel -The Mathematician – Peter Thompson
Boy 2 – Kyle Underwood who works on Orchids and is still at school
Sharkie – Finn Rautenbach – Our latest SYT is a surfer in his spare time and is now the Curator of the Garden Route Botanical Garden
Sicko – Someone who suffers from Car Sickness. With 4 in the Group, allocating seating in the Buchu Bus is tricky
VAG – Virgin Active Garage, which is our meeting place when we head north
MATMUE – Meet At The Mall Under E - Meeting place when we head West
WG – Waves Garage in Wilderness East. - Meeting place when we’re going east.
VU- Vulnerable
DDT – Data Deficient and Taxonomically ?
NT – Near Threatened
EN – Endangered
CR – Critically Endangered
PE – Presumed extinct
LC – Least Concern
TBC – To be Confirmed
TLC – Tender loving care
JMS – An expression of absolute disdain
FOMO – Fear of Missing Out
Milk – the fruit of the vine
Condensed Milk – Scotland’s finest export
Full Cream Milk or Fat Milk – Any product of Humulus lupulus eg. Milk Stout
Milk of the Gods – Rooibos and Brandy
Milk Shake - Sparkling Wine
NS – Species of conservation concern new to the Outramps
PS -Priority Species allocated to the Outramps by our CREW Cape Co-ordinator , Ismail Ebrahim
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants
OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly

Posted on 26 November, 2018 13:09 by outramps-tanniedi outramps-tanniedi | 1 comment | Leave a comment